Stenographic machine



June 7, 1960 H. B. SMITH STENOGRAPHIC MACHINE Filed June 8. 1959 United States Patent 2,939,564 STENOGRAPHIC MACHINE Howard B. Smith, 1439 Rhode Island Ave. NW., Washington,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stenographic machines, that is, machines used for typing shorthand, and in particular the invention concerns itself with certain improvements in a machine of the type disclosed in my earlier application Serial No. 662,966, filed May 28, 1957, now Patent No.2,891,647, dated June 23, 1959, of which this application is a continuationin-part.

vWhile experimenting with the machine constructed in accordance with my earlier invention I found that the same lends itself to certain improvements, particularly from the standpoint of the operative connection between the key bars and the type bar actuating cranks, the principal object of the present invention being to provide a machine wherein such improvements are embodied.

As such, an important feature of the present invention resides in arranging the key bars and the type bar actuating cranks in such manner that the distance between the respective shafts carrying the key bars and the cranks is materially reduced, thus correspondingly increasing the operating efficiency of the translation of movement from the key bars to the cranks, reducing such movement to the minimum, producing a more positive action, reducing operating noise, and increasing the smoothness and sensitivity of touch of the operators fingers on the keyboard of the machine.

Another important feature of the invent-ion involves the provision of means whereby the key bars and the cranks have obliquely disposed arm portions in operative engagement with each other, and the oblique angulations of the arm portions on all the key bars in the set and on all the cranks in the set are lll'lifOIlIl, so that in the process of manufacture it is not necessary to angulate the several key bars and cranks in the respective sets at different points inasmuch as all the key bars and all the cranks in the respective sets are standardized and interchangeable.

With the foregoing more important objects and features in view and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description 'taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,

wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like parts, and wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a stenographic machine, showing the components thereof with which the present invention is concerned;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 22 in Figure 1; and t Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, illustrating the relationship of the angulated arm portions of one of the cranks and key bars. 7

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the same illustrate a stenographic machine of the general type disclosed in my aforementioned Patent No. 2,891,647 but, for sake of clarity, only to the extent of components with which the present invention is con- 2,939,564 Patented June 7, 1960 cerned, it being understood that the arrangement of the other components of the machine is substantially the same as in the aforementioned patent and, also, that the teachings of the present invention are applicable generally to stenographic machines of this type.

As such, the stenographic machine is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and includes a suitable frame 11, one side member or side plate of which appears at 12. The side plates of the frame are suitably secured together by transverse tie bars or straps 13.

A platen 28 is rotatably mounted in the frame 11 on a suitable supporting shaft 29, and a set of type bars 32, slidable on a support member in the frame, are movable toward and away from the platen. A set of triple-arm cranks 101 are pivotally mounted in spaced vertical planes on a cross shaft 102 in the frame, such cranks having the arms 101a thereof pivotally connected as at 103 to the respective type bars 32, while the arms 101b thereof are operatively engaged by a multi-leaf spring 37, whereby to urge the type bars 32 away from the platen 28.

The cranks 101 also include arms 1010 which are in operative engagement with arms 35a of the respective double arm cranks or bell cranks 35 mounted for pivotal movement in spaced vertical planes on a cross shaft 36 in the frame 11.

A stub shaft 43 projects laterally outwardly from each side plate 12 of the frame '11 and has pivotally mounted thereon a set of key bars 44 disposed in spaced vertical planes, such bars being provided with suitable keys as indicated at 45. It is to be understood, of course, that the key bars are disposed exteriorly at both sides of the machine, the arrangement exemplified for one side in Figure 2 being duplicated at the relatively opposite side.

The essence of novelty of the present invention resides in the operative connection between the key bars 44 and the bell cranks 35, particularly the arms 35b of the bell cranks, as will be now explained.

The arm portions 35b of the cranks 35 are angulated obliquely so that they extend downwardly and laterally outwardly, while the arm portions 44a provided on the key bars 44 are angulated obliquely so that they extend upwardly and laterally inwardly into coplanar relation with the arm portions 35b of the respective cranks. The arm portions 35b and 4411 are mutually parallel and pass through lateral openings 46 formed in the side plates of the frame 11, with the arm portions 44a operatively engaging the respective arm portions 35b as shown, so that when any one of the key bars 44 is depressed as indicated at 48, the associated arm portion 44a moving in the direction of the arrow 49 partially rotates the associated crank 35 as indicated at 50 and causes the type bar 32 associated therewith to be moved toward the I tive engagement to be located in the oblique plane of the arm portions 35b and 44a and, as the result, the distance between the shafts 36 and 43 may be materially decreased so as to produce a more positive action with less movement between the engaging parts. This more efficient translation of motion, in turn, reduces operating noise and produces a smoother and a more sensitive touch of the operators fingers on the keys 45. Also, the oblique angulation of the cranks 35 and key bars 44 at the points 105 and 106, respectively, is uniform, whereby both the cranks and the key bars in the rwpective sets are standardized and interchangeable, whereby it is not necessary to fabricate cranks and key bars with arms of different angulations in the manufacture of-the machine.

It may be. also noted that by locating the shafts 36, 43 close together as facilitated by the oblique arrangement of the arms 35b and 44a, it is possible to utilize 'a higher mechanical advantage in the transmission of movement from the key bars to the type bars, whereby the type bars are 'moved toward the platen with more power at the exertion of'a lighter touch on the keyboard, than in machines of conventional type. a

While in the foregoing there has been described and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and variousmodifications may be resorted to, such as may lie within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a stenographic machine, the combination of a frame, a' rotatable platen mounted therein, a set of type bars movable in said frame toward and away from said platen, a cross shaft provided in the frame, a set of spaced parallel cranks mounted on said cross shaft and operatively connected to the respective type bars for moving the same, and a set of key 'b ars pivotally mounted on the frame in laterally spaced relation from said cranks, said cranks and said key bars having oblique arm portions in operative engagement.

2. In a stenographic machine, the. combination of a frame, a rotatable platen mounted therein, a set of type bars movable in said frame toward and away from said platen, a horizontal cross shaft provided in the frame, a set of cranks mounted in spaced vertical planes on said cross shaft and operatively -connected to the respective type bars, a horizontal stub shaft projecting laterally outwardlyfrom the frame, and a set of key bars mounted in spaced vertical planes on said stub shaft in laterally spaced relation from the "respective cranks, said cranks and said key bars having oblique arm portions passing laterally through the frame and operatively engaging each other. I p

3. The device as defined in claim 2 wherein said frame is provided with a laterabopening having said oblique arm portions of said cranks and of said key bars extending therethrough;

4. In a stenographic machine, the combination of a frame including a side member provided with an opening, a rotatable platen mounted in said frame, a set of type bars movable in the frame toward and away from the platen, a horizontal cross shaft provided in the'frame, a set of bell cranks mounted in spaced vertical planes on said cross shaft and operatively connected to the respective type bars, a horizontal stub shaft projecting laterally outwardly from said side member of the frame in parallel relation to said cross shaft, and a set of key bars mounted in spaced vertical planes on said stub shaft in laterally spaced relation from the respective cranks, said cranks and said key bars having oblique arm portions passing laterally through said opening in said side member of the frame and said oblique arm portions of said key bars being coplanar with and operatively engaging the oblique arm portions of the respective cranks.

No references cited.

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